Pathway fight

As of Monday night, it appears there’s yet another fight over non-motorized pathways in southwest Lansing. Reminiscent of the Council/administration fight over a sidewalk along Waverly Road, now comes the South Lansing Pathway Project, a 3.5-mile asphalt path proposed south of Jolly Road between Waverly and Pennsylvania Avenue for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Third Ward Councilwoman A’Lynne Boles-Robinson, whose ward includes about half of the project, tabled a resolution to accept a $1.1 million federal grant at Monday’s City Council meeting. The reason? An administration rep didn’t come to her monthly constituent meeting on Saturday in which some residents apparently had more questions about the path. What they wanted to know, though, Boles-Robinson did not specify.

Mayor Virg Bernero called Boles-Robinson’s move “petty, narcissistic bullshit” that could jeopardize the funding amount. The grant, with “conditional commitment” from the feds, requires a city match of about $250,000. Bernero said Boles-Robinson should have known enough about the project since she chairs the committee in which the funding passed.

Boles-Robinson said Monday it’d be “irresponsible” to move forward if residents still have more questions.

The issue will be reconsidered at a Ways and Means Committee meeting Friday.